Gnyah, Britain just played 'follow the leader' in Iraq

shamrock_uk · 05-01-2005, 09:50 AM

Story here.

A leaked memo reveals some truly awful facts about Britain going to war. 8 months before the conflict we were looking to find ways to justify it. What's worse is that this wasn't to pursue Britain's interests or to make the world safer, but just because Bush was going to war.

Some choice extracts:

Quote:

In the memo, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is quoted as saying US President George Bush had "made up his mind to take military action even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin".

Well, we knew that part already... But then:

Quote:

It adds: "Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran.

So despite WMD being the stated reason for taking Britain to war the Foreign Secretary knew there was no real threat.

And it gets even better:

Quote:

We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the UN weapons inspectors. This would help with the legal justification for the use of force."

Work up a plan?? So even sending the weapons inspectors back in was simply a ruse to make the case for war stronger. I actually thought Britain was sincere about their backing of the inspectors.

This is every bit as bad as the neo-cons deciding they were going to invade Iraq years ago. Somehow the British government has always managed to appear more rational and logical about this whole thing. At least the neocons were seeking to enhance America's strategic interests by going to war, our government just went along to join the party!

These revelations make me feel...unclean.

[ 05-01-2005, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Ruadh nan Cath · 05-01-2005, 04:13 PM

What's surprising about British going to war? Where you been the last 1600 years yo? One war after another.

shamrock_uk · 05-01-2005, 04:22 PM

Because 1,600 years ago we were struggling to defend ourselves against the Saxons after the Roman's moved out? A slight difference [img]smile.gif[/img]

It's not the fact that Britain went to war per se that I object to, just the fact that not only was the country misled by the Prime Minister but it now appears that he didn't even believe there was WMD there in the first place and really did just go along with George W. Bush on this one.

He's supposed to act in British interests and I'm almost convinced now that this thought was not at the forefront of his mind when he took the country to war. Failing that, I could live with him removing a threat to global security with our troops, but it now appears that he didn't even believe that either...

Oh, and welcome to the CE Forum by the way [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-01-2005, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

Ruadh nan Cath · 05-01-2005, 04:27 PM

Duude! You ARE Saxons yo. Ain't no Celts left. You killed em and pushed em into Wales and shit. Saxons, Normans, Angles, Jutes, Even the Dalraid Scots kick the Pictish ass. A nation of warmongers needs a reason to kick Saddam? Where's that at?

shamrock_uk · 05-01-2005, 05:32 PM

That's because we lost, the Saxons had bigger sticks. And in any case, the Celts didn't dwell in Southern England, whilst the main thrust of the Saxon invasion was along the south coast towards Dumnonia and up into Mercia IIRC. And those folks down in Kernow were never subjugated either so there's still some of the old folks left [img]smile.gif[/img]

But if the nation is a warmongering one, how come there was such public opposition to the war? But I fear we're drifting slightly from the point... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Aragorn1 · 05-01-2005, 05:40 PM

Kernow Bys Vyken!

You come down here and tell me i don't exist!

*goes to paint on woad and sharpen battle axe*

And watch who you calling war-mongers, at least we were honest about our quest for world domination [img]smile.gif[/img] ...we even brought some good things to the world, even though it's fashionable to ignore this

.

[ 05-01-2005, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Aragorn1 ]

Calaethis Dragonsbane · 05-01-2005, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ruadh nan Cath:
Duude! You ARE Saxons yo. Ain't no Celts left. You killed em and pushed em into Wales and shit. Saxons, Normans, Angles, Jutes, Even the Dalraid Scots kick the Pictish ass. A nation of warmongers needs a reason to kick Saddam? Where's that at?

I should point out that after the British Empire arose, we at least, considered ourselves "civilised". Warmongering nation isn't quite accurate anymore, ol' chap. Times change, ol' boy. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Sir Degrader · 05-01-2005, 06:57 PM

Let's get back on topic gents...

Calaethis Dragonsbane · 05-01-2005, 07:07 PM

All right then. So Blair's a liar. What else is new? He's lied to the British Public and really, imo, does not deserve to be PM. Not that the competition is a whole lot better, but... there you go. There isn't really a lot one can do about it now, other then perhaps, put Blair in court and file charges against him. Although exactly what charges, I'm not sure. I doubt it could be classed as "treason" though.

shamrock_uk · 05-01-2005, 08:55 PM

It's a big deal for those who weren't cynical enough to believe the conspiracy theories already. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I have learnt my lesson

05-01-2005, 04:13 PM	#2
Ruadh nan Cath Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: April 8, 2005 Location: Manhattan, NY Age: 53 Posts: 7	What's surprising about British going to war? Where you been the last 1600 years yo? One war after another. __________________ Et tu Brute?

05-01-2005, 04:27 PM	#4
Ruadh nan Cath Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: April 8, 2005 Location: Manhattan, NY Age: 53 Posts: 7	Duude! You ARE Saxons yo. Ain't no Celts left. You killed em and pushed em into Wales and shit. Saxons, Normans, Angles, Jutes, Even the Dalraid Scots kick the Pictish ass. A nation of warmongers needs a reason to kick Saddam? Where's that at? __________________ Et tu Brute?

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05-01-2005, 04:22 PM	#3
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	Because 1,600 years ago we were struggling to defend ourselves against the Saxons after the Roman's moved out? A slight difference [img]smile.gif[/img] It's not the fact that Britain went to war per se that I object to, just the fact that not only was the country misled by the Prime Minister but it now appears that he didn't even believe there was WMD there in the first place and really did just go along with George W. Bush on this one. He's supposed to act in British interests and I'm almost convinced now that this thought was not at the forefront of his mind when he took the country to war. Failing that, I could live with him removing a threat to global security with our troops, but it now appears that he didn't even believe that either... Oh, and welcome to the CE Forum by the way [img]smile.gif[/img] [ 05-01-2005, 04:23 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

05-01-2005, 05:32 PM	#5
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	That's because we lost, the Saxons had bigger sticks. And in any case, the Celts didn't dwell in Southern England, whilst the main thrust of the Saxon invasion was along the south coast towards Dumnonia and up into Mercia IIRC. And those folks down in Kernow were never subjugated either so there's still some of the old folks left [img]smile.gif[/img] But if the nation is a warmongering one, how come there was such public opposition to the war? But I fear we're drifting slightly from the point... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

05-01-2005, 05:40 PM	#6
Aragorn1 Symbol of Cyric Join Date: July 3, 2001 Location: Cornwall England Age: 37 Posts: 1,197	Kernow Bys Vyken! You come down here and tell me i don't exist! goes to paint on woad and sharpen battle axe And watch who you calling war-mongers, at least we were honest about our quest for world domination [img]smile.gif[/img] ...we even brought some good things to the world, even though it's fashionable to ignore this . [ 05-01-2005, 05:46 PM: Message edited by: Aragorn1 ]

05-01-2005, 06:57 PM	#8
Sir Degrader Thoth - Egyptian God of Wisdom Join Date: November 3, 2001 Location: Canada Age: 64 Posts: 2,871	Let's get back on topic gents...

05-01-2005, 07:07 PM	#9
Calaethis Dragonsbane Legion Symbol Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Somewhere in between Age: 40 Posts: 7,029	All right then. So Blair's a liar. What else is new? He's lied to the British Public and really, imo, does not deserve to be PM. Not that the competition is a whole lot better, but... there you go. There isn't really a lot one can do about it now, other then perhaps, put Blair in court and file charges against him. Although exactly what charges, I'm not sure. I doubt it could be classed as "treason" though.

05-01-2005, 08:55 PM	#10
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 42 Posts: 3,092	It's a big deal for those who weren't cynical enough to believe the conspiracy theories already. [img]smile.gif[/img] I have learnt my lesson

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